Outfit frontman Andrew Hunt said: “John is a guy we’ve all seen around Liverpool for years. I used to see him on the bus getting changed into his outfit and entertaining the kids, pulling faces and generally looking awesome and weird.

“When we approached him to be in the video and got talking it turned out he'd a pretty interesting life which had seen him living on the streets and eventually turning his life around through performing.

“It all chimed pretty well with the song's preoccupation with the many lives you can lead through the decisions you make.

“John is totally clean now and has a partner. He lives in a nice flat with a beautiful kid called Rhys whom he loves very much. It's been great to get to know him.”

The five-minute video includes an interview with John and footage of his typical eight-hour day standing on a box in Church Street – including his robot dance and him handing lollipops to children.

John said: “People say all heroin addicts are robbers, muggers and they will rob off their mums, but it’s not true.

“I’ve never robbed off my mum, I’ve never mugged anyone, I’ve never robbed a house.“ I get off my backside. I go out and I make my money.

“I was homeless for about eight years, sleeping on the streets in cardboard boxes and empty houses. I was in trouble all the time, in and out of jail three or four times a year.

“Since I’ve done this I’ve not been in trouble now for eight years. There is always another future you can have, you’ve just got to plan it yourself.

“When I was sleeping rough no one wanted to know me. Now I do this everyone wants to speak to me.”

Outfit – brothers Andrew and Nicholas Hunt, Thomas Gorton, Christopher Hutchinson and David Berger – were named by NME as among the top 25 new bands in the world to watch.

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The Editor

Alastair Machray

Alastair Machray was appointed editor of The Liverpool Echo in 2005 and is also editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. He is a former editor of The Daily Post (Wales and England) and editor-in-chief of the company's Welsh operations. Married dad-of-two and keen golfer Alastair is one of the longest-serving newspaper editors in the country. His titles have won numerous awards and spearheaded numerous successful campaigns.